Flexible track element and structure



' R. SEIDMAN 2,574,067

FLEXIBLE TRACK ELEMENT AND STRUCTURE Filed March 29, 1947 Nov. 6, 195]FIG. 7

RICHARD L. SEIDMAN INVENTOR ATTOR Y Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT, OFFICE FLEXIBLE TRACK ELEMENT AND STRUCTURE Richard L. Seidman,South Norwalk, Conn.

Application March 29, 1947, Serial No. 738,073

My invention relates to tracl; elements of a flexible nature which arebendable into a variety of shapes and to track structures formed fromone or more of such elements and especially to flexible track elementsand track structures formed therefrom which are useful as means for suppt n and guiding o jects of a mobile cha acter mounted for movementthereon.

Objects o my invention are the provision oi novel flexible trackelements employable individually or in combination with each other orwith one or more auxiliary track elements of a rigid character wherebyto provide track structures which may assume a variety of curvatures dwhich may be positioned to extend horizontally as well as along inclinesand which are adapted for use as tracks for toy trains, toy rollercoasters, various-vehicles and the like and for other purposes, suchasmeans for transporting mobile objects, which may serve as carriersbetween separated points, as, for example, between difi r nt locationsin a building or between build ings themselves or for other purposes.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a flexible track, elementwhich may be bent into a variety of shapes or configurations by reasonof a novel constructional design employing a body of flexible materialwhich encases a pliant core member, bendable substantially universallyin any manner; and to provide an element of such character in which theflexible body is f rmed f a ganic plastic material and the core membercomprises flexible tube means extending lengthwise of and from end toend of the body, and especially tube means comprising 10 Claims.(crassflexible metallic tubing.

Further objects herein reside in providing flexible track elements whichmay be constructed in relatively long lengths and which may employcasting or molding practices in the formation thereof in providingflexible track elements in which the body of each element has a bottomportion usable as a supporting base and a top portion having meansintegrally formed therewith and extending lengthwise of the body andforming a trackway for guiding a mobile object adapted to be movablysupported on the body; and to provide flexible track elements in whichthe trackway on each element is in the form of flange means or channelmeans.

Still further objects of this invention are to provide a track structurecomprising one or more flexible track elements of the characterdescribed; to provide a track structure of one or more flexible elementstogether with coupling means for uniting track element ends located inopposed relation to each other; to provide coupling means betweenopposed track element ends wherein the track-way-forming means at eachopposed track element and are joined in a substantially continuousconnection; and to provide couplingmeans whereby one or moresubstantially rigid auxiliary track elements may be connected to an endof a flexible track element or may be connected between opposed flexibletrack element ends.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the arti! cles possessing theconstruction, combination of elements'and arr ngement of parts which areexemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing where- Figure l is a transversesection through a flexible track element of the invention and'shows aset of vehicle wheels mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of aflexible track structure;

Fig. .3 is a section on line 33 and shows details of a coupling whichunites opposed track element ends;

Fig. his a section similar to Fig. 3 and shows coupling means forassociating an auxiliary and substantiallyrigid track element with aflexible track element;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are transverse sections of different embodiments offlexible track elements, each showing a vehicle mounted thereon.

In a generic sense, my invention provides means for supportably guidingmobile objects. As indicated, the invention is especially suited for theprovision of track structures employed in connection with toys, forexample, trains, roller coasters and other vehicles. Such use servesadmirably for the purpose of illustration and is employed to that end,it being understood that the sameis not to be taken as a limitation ofthe invention.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have shown a type of flexibletrack element well suited for supporting wheeled vehicles and generallyprefamed for that purpose. This embodiment of my flexible track elementsIii, each of which comprises a body l of flexible material having a bore12 extending longitudinally therethrough and a pliant core member l4encased and engaged within the bore. Body H, as shown, is of one piececonstruction and has a bottom portion adapted to provide a base on whichthe track element may be supported and a top portion having spaced-apartflanges l5 integrally formed with the body.

Flanges extend from end to end of body II and provide trackway-formingmeans in the shape of rails for guiding a mobile object which is movablysupported thereon, as, for example, the schematically representedrailway truck I6 associated with element ii]. Core member M, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises flexible tubing and is adapted toextend from end 'to end of bore H2 in body H of the track element. Ifthe core member is in the form of a rod or bar it may be made slightlyshorter than bore 12 for a purpose which will presently appear.

As already mentioned, body H is of flexible character and for thispurpose there may be employed any flexible material which may be formedwith the cross-section desired for the track element. Core member 14 isof a pliant nature and is substantially universally bendable whereby itmay be bent in whole or in part to assume a variety of shapes andconfigurations by bending of a character which includes curving,turning, twisting as by the application or torsional force, deflecting,inclining, flexing and the like. While being of a pliant nature, coremember 14 should possess sufficient stiffness to resist forces whichtend to straighten it from a bent condition and which may be impartedthereto by the flexing of the encasing body I! whereby the latter issubstantially maintained in the general shape assumed by the coremember. body of the track element, besides being flexible, may alsopossess elasticity. Core member l4 may be a solid bar or rod, in whichevent it is formed of a material which may be indefinitely worked orshaped or bent into different configurations without causing fatigue orstrain or hardening which would result in its rupture or fracture. Forthis purpose well known relatively soft metals and alloys may beemployed. Preferably, however, core member [4 is formed of flexible tubemeans.

The invention is generaly intended to be carried out with metallictubing, of which there are many well known types, although tubingcomprising an organic plastic material of the character hereinafternamed may be employed. Flexible tubing employed may have a jointedconstruction or may be formed like that used in conventional electriclamps of the goose neck type having flexible tube means wherein a metalstrip having a wedge shaped cross-section is wound about a spiral springto continuously engage the spiral elements of the spring from end to endthereof. Also, tubing of one-piece construction may be used for coremember 14.

The flexible material of body II is preferably one which may be cast ormolded. Such practices, which include extrusion molding within theirscope, not only permit body ll of a track element to be shaped asdesired but conveniently allow core member [4 to be encased within thebody by forming the body about the core member. Furthermore, thetrackway-forming means, for example, flanges I5 of Fig. 1 may be formedWithin these limits, the material of the as an integra1 part of the bodyof the track element when it is cast or molded whereby the necessity ofspecially securing the trackway means on the body is eliminated.

Flexible materials which may be cast or molded to form the body of trackelements of the invention may be found among organic plastic compounds.As examples thereof mention may be made of the vinyl resins such aspolyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate-chloridecopolymers, as well as copolymers of vinylidene chloride and vinylchloride and also the polyvinyl acetals. In addition, synthetic andnatural rubbers may be employed for the track element bodies when usedwith core members ofiering sufficient stiffness to resist the elasticityof such materials.

From the foregoing it will become apparent that since core member IA oftrack element It is substantially universally bendable, the flexiblebody H which encases it will be similarly bent to assume the generalshaped condition of the core member, and due to the stiffness of thecore member will be substantially maintained in such condition.Furthermore, flexible body II is so designed that stresses impartedthereto on the bending of its encased core member will leave thetrack-forming means on body I I substantially unafiected and inoperative condition.

The universally bendable feature of track element 10, which is followedin all embodiments of my invention, makes it possible to bend or shapethe track element. to assume horizontal and vertical curves, by which Imean curves having their centers of curvature lying respectively inhorizontal and vertical planes passing through the longitudinal axis ofthe track element. Consequently, a-relatively long track element havingits base supported in a horizontal plane, for example, upon a floor, maybe arranged to have one or more straight portions and one or more curvedportions,,or it may be arranged to have a part of its base supported ina horizontal plane and another part thereof at an incline to thehorizontal support whereby to provide a vertical curve or curves, or thetrack element may be arranged to provide a combination of horizontal andvertical curved portions and straight or tangent portions. Furthermore,by suitably twisting a track element as a part of the shaping operation,banking of the curve or curves to be bent therein may be effected.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that a track element It,having a length of several feet, preferably of four or five feet ormore, when carried upon a horizontal support may be bent to bring itsends into opposed relation to each other and by securing the endstogether eifect the formation of a continuous track structure. In thismanner, track structures providing track systems of various geometricalconfigurations may be provided, for example a structure in the form of acircle, or ellipse, or an oval, or a structure of irregular curvature.Likewise, it will be appreciated that a continuous track structure maybe formed of several coupled together track elements. At the same timeit is to be understood that my' invention is not limited to continuoustrack structures but comprehends structures wherein the opposite endsthereof are unconnected or are discontinuous. Also, as will presentlyappear, my invention includes within its scope a-track structure havinga continuous portion and a discontinuous portion joined there-' toas,'tor example, a closed van'd'curved portion having a discontinuousspur connected thereto by'switch means. 1

The joining of the opposite ends of a track structure in continuousoperating connection may be accomplished by the use of a wide variety ofcoupling means, the form of which is secondary totheir function. Forthis purpose, the .coupling may conveniently be accomplished by clipmeans in the form of a flanged slide, pin means, plugmeans, threadedmeans or the like adapt! ed to be engaged within channels, recesses orbores formed in or near the ends of the body of the track element-orelements to be joined, or. the coupling may be carried out by platemeans adapted to be detachably fastened .by screws or the like to thesides of the body of the track element or elements being coupled, or theunion may be efiected by any combination of such coupling means.Additional utility is found in the coupling means of the charactercontemplated by the invention in that such means may be, employed toeffect a connection between a flexible track element and an auxiliarytrack element such as a switch or a cross over or a special elementemployable at the end of a discontinuous track structure as, forexample, a member having an inclinedv surface usable with types ofroller coaster. structures where the vehicle after passage over acoaster course formed of one or more flexible track elements 'isdischarged therefrom. onto a horizontal support. Thecoupling means maybe in the form, of individual members adapted to be attached inengagementat the time the; coupling is made to, ,thetrack element endsthey are to join. Side plates of the character heretofore mentioned, ora clip having a flat base portion and overturned side flanges engageablewithin channels or slots in the adjacent track element ends, may .benamed as specific examples of such coupling means. Furthermore, thecoupling means may be fixedly carried by a track element at one endthereof. As an example of this latter expedient, mention may. be made ofa special auxiliary tx ack element having a plug and/or pins fixed tothe end thereof to be connected to a flexible track element end.Alternately, the coupling means may be fixed to one or both ends of amember or block which is adapted to form a joint between two trackelement ends which are to be connected as, for example, opposed flexibletrack element ends or the end of an auxiliary track element and an endof a flexible track element.

The last-mentioned type of coupling means,

because j of its adaptability to various usages, has been made thesubject of specific illustration inFigs. 2 and 3 where it is shown incoupling connection withopposed flexible track element ends. Inparticular, Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmen tar-y views of a track structurecomprising one or moretrack elements l0 and detail a part of the trackstructure wherein a pair of opposed track element ends 2| and 22 arejoined in continuous opera-ting connection by means of a coupling member20. The part of the track structure to the right of coupling member 20is disclosed in Fig. 2 as being arranged to have a straight portion'ortangent leading into acurved portion while only a straight portion ofthe track structure is shown to the left of the coupling memb M Indetail, and with reference to both, Figs. 2

and 3, the coupling member 20' .comprises a joint block 23. having across-section which .substan. tially duplicates the cross-section oftrack element Ill. Consequently, the upper surface .of block 23 isprovided with trackway-forming means such as the spaced-apart railflanges 25 which are substantially similar to rail flange l5 of trackelement It]. Cylindrical extensions or plug members 26 extend from theopposite ends of block 23 and are adapted to engage with a pair ofopposed track element ends for uniting the same.

Plug members 26 are pushed into bores 12 at the opposed track elementends and are frictionally engaged within said bores. With track elementI 0, a plug member 26 is of a character to be effectively engaged withthe flexible tube means which form core member I l. If core member I 3is stopped short of a track element end, plug means .5 may beconstructed to engage with the walls of bore [2 in the track element.When coupling member 20 is in connection position, flanges 25 carriedthereon are located so as to form a continuation of trackway-formingmeans it at the united track element ends whereby to effect a continuous0perative connection therebetween.

If desired, additional means may be employed in uniting the couplingmember and the track element ends. Thus, joint block 23 may be pinned tothe opposed track element ends 2| and 22 by pins 2! adapted to bereceived in frictional engagement within aligned holes in the trackelement ends and the ends of the block member. In Fig. 3, pins 21 areshown in the ends of the abutting rail flanges i5 and-25. Instead of, orin addition to pinning rail flanges I5 and 25, pin means may be employedat various other locations in body II at the track element ends and inthe ends of block member 23 for pinning the opposed track element endsto coupling member 20.

Coupling member 20 may be formed of any appropriate material and maypossess a solid crosssection. Conveniently, coupling member 28 may becast or molded, in which event any of the already named plasticmaterials, as well as other plastics of a less flexible nature, may beemployed. Casting or molding the coupling mem-- ber possesses theadvantage that plug members 26 may be integrally formed therewith andneed not be separately attached, although it is to be understood that ifdesired individual plug means may be utilized and the same may besuitably fastened to the ends of the coupling member.

Alternately, if desired, the plug, members on coupling member 26 may bedispensed and block 23 provided with a longitudinal bore. Un-

der such circumstances, core members it may extend beyond the trackelement ends to engage Within the bore just described. Also, ininstances where block 23 is provided with a bore, plug means in the formof a rod engaged therein and extending beyond the ends thereof, may beutilized.

While coupling member 20 has been shown in operative connection betweenopposed flexible track element ends, as pointed out, it may be connectedat one end to a flexible track element and at its other end to anauxiliary track element.

'Also, as-previously noted, the auxiliary track element secured to aflexible track element by coupling member 20 may take any of a varietyof forms or shapes as, for example, the special end member lmentioned inconnection with a roller coaster and usable for placing a vehicle on aflexible track element from a horizontal support or for taking it oif ofa flexible track element by the use of a trackway on an inclined surfaceof the auxiliary element.

The coupling means, as also heretofore stated, include means whichpermit a rigid auxiliary track element in the form of commerciallyavailable track cross overs, switches and the like, to bejoined to theopposed ends of one or more flexible track elements. One coupling meansof this character is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising a coupling member Allwhich is similar to coupling member 20 of Figs. 2 and 3 in that it isformed with a joint block 43 adapted to support trackway-forming meanswith a cylindrical or plug member 48 extending from one end of block 43.A portion of block 43, adjacent the plug element end thereof, is given across-sectional shape substantially like that of track element i wherebyto provide trackway-forming means in the form of flanges 45 which aresupported upon the body of the joint block. The remainder of the topportion of block 43 is shaped to provide a flat seat or surface 41 uponwhich one end of a rigid track element 43 is supported. Element 48 makesuse of conventional construction utilizing rigid rails or flangessupported on rigid cross-ties and may be in the form of a switch, crossover, straight or curved track section, or the like.

It will appear from Fig. 4 that coupling member 40, when engaged withtrack element ID, has its flanges 45 affecting a continuous connectionwith flange E5 of track element Ill. Rigid track element 48 is disclosedas having one end thereof seated upon surface 41 of block 43 and itsflanges aligned with flanges 45 and pinned thereto. A second couplingmember 48 is employed for securing the opposite end of rigid trackelement 48 to the flexible track element end which would appear to theleft of Fig. 4 but which is not disclosed in the drawing.

It may be observed that Fig. 4 also serves'to illustrate how anauxiliary track element, having a specially shaped top surface providedwith trackway means thereon, may be connected to the end of a flexibletrack element when the auxiliary element is provided with a plug memberwhich extends from the end thereof to be connected to the flexibletrack.

In this way, the track structures of my invention are subject toconsiderable modification and may be formed into many complicated tracksys: tems or shapes other than the simple continuous structuresheretofore described. For example, a figure eight track structure may beformed with two lengths of the flexible track element In, four couplingmembers 40 of the type shown in Fig. 4, and a rigid track cross overelement. This figure eight structure can be supplemented as desired byadding into it one or more rigid track switch elements together with oneor more lengths of flexible track. Other designs for track structuresmay be similarly made.

In Figs. 5, 6 and '7, further types of flexible track elements aredisclosed. Generically, track elements 51169 and P0 of thejust-mentioned figures of the drawing, respectively comprise bodymember-s Si, Si and H which encase flexible tube means 55, 5d and Hilocated in bores 52, 62 and. 72 in the respective track element bodies,and in this regard follow the basic construction disclosed in connectionwith Fig. 1. Likewise, track elements 50, 60 and ID are made of similarmaterials and in a similar manner to track-element l0. Coupling meanssimilar to those heretofore 8 described are'intended for use with trackelements 50, 60 and Ill. Distinctions between flexible track elements50, 60 and 10 and track element Hi reside in the shape given to therespective bodies thereof and in the trackway-formirg means on the topportion of these bodies.

In Fig. 5, the top portion of body 5| of track element 50 is providedwith trackway-forming means in the shape of a channel 55 which runslengthwise of the track element and from end to end thereof. Thisembodiment is disclosed in connection with a wheeled vehicle 56 havingone or more members 51 secured to the body or chassis of the vehicle andwhich are adapted to be engaged within channel 55 whereby the vehicle ismaintained upon the flexible track element 5 and guided thereon.

The embodiment disclosed in Fig.5 of theinvention is intended to embracethe formation of at least a pair of spaced-apart channels in the top ofbody 5|. of flexible element 50 which are adapted to engage flangedwheels l6 of the type shown in Fig. 1.

In lieu of trackway-forming channel means in the top portion of theflexible track elements,.a single flange 65 may be employed as isdisclosed in Fig. 6. Flange (55 extends lengthwise of track element 50,from end to end thereof, and is adapted to be engaged by members 61carried upon the chassis or body of wheeled vehicle 56 whereby to guideand maintain the vehicle upon the flexible track element. Flange 65 alsomay be employed to provide a monorail construction.

The embodiment of the flexible track element disclosed in Fig. '7 makesuse of a bodyll having a relatively deep channel 15 formed in the topportion thereof. This channel extends length wise of the track element,from end to end thereof, and is shown as having a semi-circularcrosssection but may have a generally U shaped cross-section with thearms of the U parallel to each other or in spreading relation from thebottom of the element to the top thereof. Channel 15 forms the trackwayof element 10 and is adapted to support a movable object therein, as forexample, the wheeled vehicle 16 which preferably is constructed to havea low center of gravity. Flexible track element 18 is adapted for use inroller coaster track structures and also for use as a conveyor track forobjects which are without wheels and which may be slidably supported inchannel 15 or which are round or spherical and are susceptible to beingrolled along the channel. Since the movable object is mounted within thechannel, thereason for giving the channel considerable depth becomesapparent. 1

While the invention has been illustrated primarily in connection withtrack structures adapted to be supported upon a single horizontalsurface, as hereinbefore pointed out, the flexible track elements of theinvention are well adapted to be employed in track structures having aseries of vertical curves or one or more vertical curves in conjunctionwith one or more horizontal curves or winding curves which are ofascending and descending character. Thus, the invention permits theformation of a variety of closed or discontinuous track structures whichhave portions of their trackways elevated with respect to otherportionsthereof. When the latter is the case, the track element or elements ofthe closed or discontinuous structure may be carried upon any suitablesupport means, the specific nature Of which is not a part of the presentinvention.

In regard to the support of the track elements, it may be observed thatthe base portion provided in all of the illustrated embodiments of theinvention is well adapted for seating upon a variety of supportstructures as, for example, a floor, trestle means, inclined planes andthe like. Alternately, many other support arrangements may be providedand merely by way of one illustration thereof, pins engaged intheopposite sides of'a track element may be employed to suspend the samefrom a supporting structure.

The fact that a track structure may be adapted to assume vertical aswell as horizontal curves is of importance in providing for dispensingand for storage of the track element. For example, track elements may beformed in relatively long lengths of fifty feet and up, and forshipping, storage and dispensing purposes may be wound upon reels. Whenit is .desired to employ a track element of such relatively long lengthit is merely unwound from the reel and may be returned thereto forstorage. When being sold, a desired footage may be unwound from thestorage reel and severed from the remainder of the element left upon thereel. Similarly, the storage of shorter lengths may be effected uponreels and the like.

As previously pointed out, the invention is not limited to trackfor-wheeled vehicles but contemplates means for movably supporting andguiding any type of mobile object or device carried thereon. Neither isthe invention limited to use solely with toys but may serve for thetransportation of conveyor or carrier devices and in this regard mayprovide a transportation or communications system.

Since certain changes may be made in the above subject matter withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is in-.tended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown inthe accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A track element comprising an elongated one piece body of flexiblematerial having a bottom portion, a top portion and two side portions,said body being substantially universally bendable, each side portionbeing longitudinally continuous and laterally uninterrupted for thelength of said element and respectively joining corresponding edges ofsaid top and bottom portions, said top portion having means formedthereon which extend lengthwise of the element from end to end of saidtop portion and provide a trackway for guiding an object adapted to bemovably supported upon said body, said bottom portion being formed toprovide a supporting base for said element, and means for substantiallyuniformly transmitting to said body forces which are applied to bendsaid track element and for maintaining said body in a bent shapecomp-rising a pliant and substantially universally bendable core memberencased within said body and extending generally centrally of the bodyand at least approximately from end to end thereof, said core memberhaving sufflcient stiffness to resist forces which are set up in saidbody when said body and core member are bent and which tend tostraighten said core member from a bent condition.

2. A track element of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said bodyis provided with a bore which extends longitudinally through the bodyand which is located generally centrally of the 10 body, and whereinsaid core member comprises flexible tube means engaged within said bore.

3. A track element comprising an elongated and substantially universallybend-able one piece body of a flexible organic plastic material having asubstantially uniform cross section from end to end thereof and providedwith a bottom portion, a top portion and two side portions, each sideportion being'joined respectively to corresponding edges of said top andbottom portions, said top portion having means formed thereon whichextend lengthwise of the element from end to end of the top portion andprovide a trackway for guiding an object adapted to be movably supportedon said body, said bottom portion being formed to provide a supportingbase for said element, and a pliant core member comprising flexiblemetallic tube means encased within said body and extending at leastapproximately from end to end thereof, said flexible tube means beingsubstantially universally bendable and having suflicient stiffness toresist forces set up in said body When said track element is bent andwhich tend to straighten the flexible tube means from a bent condition,said flexible tube means being positioned to extend generally centrallyof said body whereby stresses imparted to said body by said flexibletube means upon the bending of said tube means are substantiallyuniformly applied to said body.

4. In a track element upon which movable objects may travel, anelongated one piece body of flexible material having a bottom portion, atop portion and two side portions, each side portion beinglongitudinally continuous and laterally uninterrupted for the length ofsaid element and respectively joining corresponding edges of said topand bottom portions, said top portion having at least one flange formedthereon and extending above said top portion and lengthwise of saidelement from end to end of said top portion, said flange providing meansfor. guiding an object adapted to be movably supported upon said body,said bottom portion being formed to provide a supporting base for saidelement, and a pliant core member encased within said body and extendingat least approximately from end to end thereof, said core member beingsubstantially universally bendable and having sufficient stiffness toresist forces tending to straighten it from a bent condition and tosubstantially maintain said body in the general shaped condition of saidcore, said core member being positioned within said body to extendgenerally centrally thereof whereby stresses imparted to said body uponthe bending of said core member are substantially uniformly appliedthereto.

5. A track element comprising an elongated one piece body of flexiblematerial having a bottom portion, a top portion and two side portions,each side portion being longitudinally continuous and laterallyuninterrupted for the length of said element and respectively joiningcorresponding edges of said top and-bottom portions, said top portionhaving a pair of spaced apart rail-form- 1 ing flanges formed thereonand extending above said top portion and lengthwise of said element fromend to end of said top portion and which are adapted to guide the Wheelsof a wheeled vehicle supported for movement thereon, said bottom portionbeing formed to provide a supporting base for said element, and a pliantcore member encased within said body and extending at leastapproximately from end to end thereof, said core member beingsubstantially universally bendable and having sufficient stiffness toresist forces ,to substantially maintain said body in the general shapedcondition of said core, said core member being positioned within saidbody to extend generally centrally thereof whereby stresses imparted tosaid body upon the bending of said core member are substantiallyuniformly applied thereto.

I 6. A track element as set forth in claim 5, wherein said bodycomprisesa flexible organic plastic material and said core member comprisesmetallic tube means. V

7. A track element of the character bendable into a variety of shapescomprising an elongated one piece body of flexible material having abottom portion, a top portion and two side portions, each side portionbeing longitudinally continuous and laterally uninterrupted for thelength of said element and respectively joining corresponding edges ofsaid top and bottom portions, said top portion having channel meansformed therein and extending towards said bottom portion and lengthwiseof said element from end to end of said top portion, said channel meansproviding a guideway for guiding objects movably supported on said body,said bottom portion being formed to provide a supporting base for saidelement, and a pliant core member encased within said body and extendingat least approximately from end to end thereof, said core member beingsubstantially universally bendable and having sufiicient stifiness toresist forces tending to straighten it from a bent condition and tosubstantially maintain said body in the general shaped condition of saidcore, said core member being positioned to extend generally centrally ofsaid body whereby stresses imparted to said body upon the bending ofsaid core member are substantially uniformly applied thereto.

8. A track element of the character defined in claim 7 wherein thechannel means thereof has a cross section which approximates asemi-circle and is adapted to support an object therein for movement incontact with the surface of said channel at least at locations closelyadjacent the deepest part of said channel. 9. In a track structure, incombination, from one to a plurality of track elements, each elementhaving trackway-forming means providing a trackway for guiding an objectadapted to be movably supported upon said element, at least one elementcomprising an elongated flexible body having a bottom portion formingfasupporting base and a top portion having means thereon integral with andextending lengthwise of said body and forming said trackway and a pliantcore member encased within said body, said core member beingsubstantially universally bendable and extending substantially centrallyof said body and at least approximately from end to end thereof, andcoupling means engageable with each pair of track element ends locatedin opposed relation for uniting said opposed ends and joining thetrackway-forming means at said ends in substantially continuousconnection.

10. In a track structure, in combination, from one to a pluralityoftrack elements, each element having trackway-forming means providing atrackway for guiding an object adapted to be movably supported upon saidelement, at least one element comprising an elongated flexible bodyhaving a bottom portion forming a supporting base and a top portionhaving means thereon integral with and extending lengthwise of said bodyand forming said trackway and a pliant core member encased within saidbody, said core member being bendable substantially universall andextending substantially centrally of said body and at leastapproximately from end to end thereof, and coupling meansengageable'with each pair of track element ends located in opposedrelation for uniting said opposed ends,- saidcouplingmeans carryingtrackway-forming means which are operatively aligned with thetrackway-forming means on said opposed track element ends when saidcoupling means is in coupling engagement with said opposed ends. s

RICHARD L. SEIDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 1,602,066 Burton Oct. 5, 19261,671,276 Cowen May 29, 1928 2,052,228 Horn Aug, 25, 1936 2,068,403Ekstrom Jan. 19, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 763,528 FranceMay 2, 1934

